Chuck for tubular cores



Sept. 13, 1966 A. EWING ETAL 3,272,447

CHUCK FOR TUBULAR CORES Filed June 23. 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORMvlu LENWDOd Ewms John OsborNE HAW Roy Lu: TsrruLL BY M77- 4 Sept. 13,1966 A. EWING ETAL CHUCK FOR TUBULAR CORES Filed June 23. 1964 5Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR ALVIN Leuwood lEwmcv Jvhu OsBav-N: Haw

ee/v Sept. 13, 1966 Filed June 23. 1964 A. L. EWING ET AL cnucx FORTUBULAR CORES 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INV EN TOR ALvm Lsuwood Ewmtv Johu OsbornHAW R0 Le: Ts rre L!. 102% United States Patent 3,272,447 CHUCK FDRTUBULAR CORES Alvin Lenwood Ewing and John Osborne Haw, Chester, and RoyLee Terrell, Richmond, Va., assignors to E. I. du Pont de Nemours andCompany, Wilmington, Del., a corporation of Delaware Filed June 23,1964, Ser. No. 377,291 4 Claims. (Cl. 24246.5)

This invention relates to the winding of strands, threads, and the likeinto packages and more particularly to an improved apparatus for holdinga tubular yarn core while a filament or yarn is wound on at high speeds.

In the textile industry, yarns are often wound on tubular cores whichare supported on rotatable chucks driven by rolling contact with a driveroll. Several considerations enter in to the problem of designing acommercially suitable chuck. The rotatable chuck should be designed topermit easy placement and removal of the core upon which the yarn iswound. Furthermore, the chuck must be so constructed to insure firmsecurance of the tubular core during all phases of the windingoperation, i.e., at various wind-up speeds and at various stages of yarnbuild-up on the core. Centrifugal forces acting on the core package,particularly at higher rotational speeds, become a significant problemin the attainment of commercially suitable yarn packaging equipment.Maintaining concentricity of the core about the spindle at higher speedsbecomes a significant problem as does balancing of the winding assembly.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a rotatable chuckhaving the desired characteristics mentioned above.

The present invention provides a chuck adapted to receive a tubularcore, the chuck comprising a spindle, a tubular housing rotatablymounted on the spindle, retainer means for holding the rotatable housingon the spindle, and certain types of annular rings mounted on thetubular housing including: (1) a first type being made of a relativelyrigid but slightly depressible material and having an outside diametersubstantially the same as the inside diameter of the tubular core; (2) asecond type being made of a relatively compressible material having arelatively high coefiicient of friction and having an outside diameterslightly greater than the inside diameter of the tubular core; and (3) athird type being made of a material capable of radial expansion due tocentrifugal forces and having an outside diameter slightly less than theinside diameter of the tubular core.

The invention will be more readily apparent from the following detaileddiscussion of the embodiments thereof when taken together with theaccompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary end View of a traverse winding apparatusincorporating the chuck construction of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a longitudinal section of the chuck with a tubular core inplace;

FIGURE 3 is a side elevation of a centering ring;

FIGURE 4 is a line on 4-4 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a side elevation of the compressible ring;

FIGURE 6 is a line on 66 of FIGURE 5;

FIGURE '7 is a side elevation of the expendable rubber ring; and

FIGURE 8 is a line on 88 of FIGURE 7.

The traverse winding apparatus shown in FIGURE 1 includes as componentsthereof a drive roll 1 and a swing arm 3 on which a chuck 5 is freelyrotatable. The chuck has a tubular core 7 telescoped thereon and isdriven by rolling engagement with the drive roll. In this manner afilamentary structure 9 is wound onto each core to form a yarn package.

3,272,447 Patented Sept. 13, 1966 Referring to FIGURE 2, housing 11 isrotatably mounted on spindle 13 by means of bearings 15. These bearingsare held in position on the spindle by tubular bearing spacer 17,spindle shoulder 19 and lock nut 21. Housing 11 is held in position bythreaded retainer ring 23. Mounted on the housing are core centeringrings 25, expandable rings 27, preferably made of rubber, andcompressible, gripping ring 29. Expandable rings 27 and compressiblering 29 are held in retainers 31. The retainers holding rings 27 areheld in spaced relationship by tubular spacers 33 and 35. A clearancebetween retainers 31 and rings 27 is provided for radial expansion ofthe rings. The entire ring and spacer assembly is held in position bylock nut 37. A circumferential stop 39 extending out radially isprovided on the tubular housing 11 to abut one end of tubular core 41.

Referring to FIGURE 3, centering rings 25, although constructed ofrelatively rigid material, are designed to depress slightly when thecore is placed on the chuck. The centering rings may suitably beconstructed of spring steel, but are more economically fabricate-d fromplastic material such as nylon, polycarbonates, polyethylene orpolyformaldehyde. Particularly suitable materials are polyhexamethyleneadipamide (66 nylon) and polyhexamethylene sebacamide (610 nylon).Preferably, a resilient support 43 (shown in FIGURE 2) is provided forthe depressible part of the ring. This resilient support, which maysuitably consist of a ring of elastomeric material such as a natural orsynthetic rubber or a flexible foam such as a flexible polyurethanefoam, is fitted snugly against the underside of the depressible portionof the centering ring, and serves to prevent the centering ring fromacquiring a permanent set under the tubular core pressure. GR-S coldrubber, having a specific gravity of 1.15 and a modulus of elasticity ofabout 1400, is satisfactory for this purpose.

Since the relatively rigid material required for construction ofcentering rings 25 does not provide sufficient gripping force to holdthe core 7 firmly in place in the initial stages of the windingoperation, ring 29 is provided for this purpose. The outside diameter ofring 29 is slightly greater than the inside diameter of the tubular core7 and the ring is composed of a readily compressible material having ahigh coefficient of friction. A foamed structure such as flexiblepolyurethane foam is particularly suitable for this purpose. Asillustrated in FIGURE 5 and 6, in a preferred design, a number of cleats45 for contacting the tubular core 7 are provided around the outerperiphery of ring 29 to facilitate compression of the ring when the coreis put in place. For the same reason, semi-circular cavities 47 arepreferably provided below each of the cleats. Preferably this materialshould have a durometer hardness of 25-35.

Expandable gripping rings 27, one of which is shown in FIGURES 7 and 8are suitably made of relatively high density elastomeric material suchas synthetic or natural rubber. These rings expand under the action ofthe centrifugal force generated at high winding speeds and serve to gripthe core tightly under the conditions of high stress imposed by the highspeeds and accumulation of yarn.

Spacers 33 and 35 may be made of metal but are more economicallyfabricated from resin-impregnated paper or similar laminated materials.

Bearing spacer 17 and housing 11 are suitably made of steel or otherappropriate metal. The ring retainers 31 may be made of metal, but aremore economically constructed from a plastic material such as 66 nylon.

Preferably, stop 39 is designed in such a manner as to serve the dualpurpose of a stop for the core and as a driving wheel to prevent thedrive roller from contacting the empty core at the beginning of thewinding operation.

For the latter purpose, the diameter of element 39 is made slightlygreater than the diameter of the core 7 upon which the yarn is to bewound so that the drive roller 1 bears gainst this part rather thanagainst the core until a small amount of yarn 9 is wound on the core toincrease the diameter sufiiciently to disengage the drive Wheel. Asillustrated in FIGURE 2, the drive wheel may suitably be constructed intwo parts consisting of a steel ring which is press fit onto the housing11 and an outer ring which may consist of a laminated plastic material.A suitable material for the outer part of the drive wheel isfabric-reinforced phenolic resin.

When the illustrated apparatus is placed in operation, there isinitially a rolling contact between drive roll 1 and stop 39. Asfilamentary structure 9 is wound on tubular core 7, the diameter of thecore package is increased sufficiently to engage the drive wheel. Thetubular core 7, fitted onto rotatable chuck 5, is held in placeinitially and during the lower rotational wind-up speeds by centeringrings 25 and particularly by ring 29. As the rotational speed of thechuck-core assembly increases, rings 27 expand radially to come intocontact with tubular core 7, thereby providing gripping meansparticularly adapted to secure the core while it is turning at higherrotational speeds. Centering rings 25, being made of a relatively rigidmaterial, provide for the maintenance of core concentricity at allwindup speeds.

The chuck of this invention possesses the characteristics required foran efficient high speed winding operation. It is simple to construct andassemble, and the parts which require replacement in use may be moldedor machined from relatively inexpensive materials. The cores upon whichthe yarn is wound are easily put in place and the final yarn package isreadily removed from the chuck without the use of special tools or otherdevices. At the same time, the core is held firmly in place during theentire Winding operation and the core and yarn package remain concentricabout the spindle.

As many Widely different embodiments of this invention may be madewithout departing from the spirit and scope thereof, it is to beunderstood that this invention is not limited to the specificembodiments thereof except as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus comprising a chuck adapted to receive a tubular core,said chuck comprising a spindle, a tubular housing rotatably mounted onsaid spindle, retainer means for holding the rotatable housing on thespindle, and certain types of annular rings mounted on said tubularhousing including: (1) a first type being made of a relatively rigid butslightly depressible material and having an outside diametersubstantially the same as the inside diameter of said tubular core; (2)a second type being made of a relatively compressible material having arelatively high coefficient of friction and having an outside diameterslightly greater than the inside diameter of said tubular core; and 3) athird type being made of a material capable of radial expansion due tocentrifugal forces and having an outside diameter slightly less than theinside diameter of said tubular core.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first type of annular ring ismade of nylon, said second type is made of a flexible foamed structure,and said third type is made of a relatively high density elastomericmaterial.

3. An apparatus comprising a chuck adapted to receive a tubular core,said chuck comprising a spindle, a tubular housing rotatably mounted onsaid spindle, retainer means for holding the rotatable housing on thespindle, and certain types of annular rings mounted on said tubularhousing including: 1) a first type having two portions, the firstportion being a tubular core contacting portion made of a relativelyrigid but slightly depressible material and the second portion providinga resilient support for said first portion in order to inhibit thisfirst type of annular ring from acquiring a permanent set under thepressure of said tubular core, said first type having an outsidediameter substantially the same as the inside diameter of said tubularcore; (2) a second type being made of a relatively compressible materialhaving a relatively high coefiicient of friction and having an outsidediameter slightly greater than the inside diameter of said tubular core;and (3) a third type being made of a material capable of radialexpansion due to centrifugal forces and having an outsile diameterslightly less than the inside diameter of said tubular core.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the first and second portions ofsaid first type of annular ring are made of nylon and a relatively highdensity elastomeric material, respectively; said second type is made ofa flexible foamed structure, and said third type is made of a relativelyhigh density elastomeric material.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,975,743 10/1934Gollong 24246.5 2,755,027 7/1956 Jones et a1. 242-465 2,887,278 5/1959Bauer 24246.5 3,099,411 7/1963 Geen 242-465 STANLEY N. GILREATH, PrimaryExaminer.

1. AN APPARATUS COMPRISING A CHUCK ADAPTED TO RECEIVE A TUBULAR CORE,SAID CHUCK COMPRISING A SPINDLE, A TUBULAR HOUSING ROTATABLY MOUNTED ONSAID SPINDLE, RETAINER MEANS FOR HOLDING THE ROTATABLE HOUSING ON THESPINDLE, AND CERTAIN TYPES OF ANNULAR RINGS MOUNTED ON SAID TUBULARHOUSING INCLUDING: (1) A FIRST TYPE BEING MADE OF A RELATIVELY RIGID BUTSLIGHTLY DEPRESSIBLE MATERIAL AND HAVING AN OUTSIDE DIAMETERSUBSTANTIALLY THE SAME AS THE INSIDE DIAMETER OF SAID TUBULAR CORE; (2)A SECOND TYPE BEING MADE OF A RELATIVELY COMPRESSIBLE MATERIAL HAVING ARELATIVELY HIGH COEFFICIENT OF FRICTION AND HAVING AN OUTSIDE DIAMETERSLIGHTLY GREATER THAN THE INSIDE DIAMETER OF SAID TUBULAR CORE; AND (3)A THIRD TYPE BEING MADE OF A MATERIAL CAPABLE OF RADIAL EXPANSION DUE TOCENTRIFUGAL FORCES AND HAVING AN OUTSIDE DIAMETER SLIGHTLY LESS THAN THEINSIDE DIAMETER OF SAID TUBULAR CORE.